Changing street names can save lives

Published: Tuesday, August 7, 2001 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 6, 2001 at 11:00 p.m.

It's always aggravating to change your address.

You must contact your bank, credit card companies, mail-order catalogs and all your friends. You've got to repaint the address on your mailbox and take time out of your schedule to get a new driver's license.

Businesses must print new letterhead, envelopes, business cards and every other document that bears their address.

Annoying, isn't it?

But suppose your address changed, and you failed to change the number on your house because you were too annoyed or simply didn't make the time to do the bothersome little chore. Then during supper one night, your child chokes or your father has a heart attack - and the paramedics wasted precious seconds looking for your new house number. In the meantime, your child choked to death or too much time lapsed between your father's heart attack and treatment - and he died. The 10 minutes it would've taken to change your house number seems petty now, doesn't it?

That's what's at stake.

That's why the ruckus being made about the changing of street names seems ridiculous. Terrebonne Parish Council has been working to eliminate duplicated street names or confusing addresses over the past few months in an effort to reduce emergency response times. Some residents have been upset by the changes; the Parish Council argued for 30 minutes recently over the issue.

But a clearer address pulled up by the Enhanced 911 Emergency Response System means those in trouble can get help faster. When someone's threatening your safety, you want police to arrive at your home as soon as possible. You want medical personnel to respond to your ailing family member as quickly as they can - every second counts. The sooner a team of firefighters can reach a burning home, the more hope there is of saving the structure and threatened lives.

Yes, it may take a little extra paperwork to change your address. But could you face yourself in the mirror if your loved one dies because you were too stubborn to help emergency personnel find your home faster?

<p>It's always aggravating to change your address.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>You must contact your bank, credit card companies, mail-order catalogs and all your friends. You've got to repaint the address on your mailbox and take time out of your schedule to get a new driver's license.</p><p>Businesses must print new letterhead, envelopes, business cards and every other document that bears their address.</p><p>Annoying, isn't it?</p><p>But suppose your address changed, and you failed to change the number on your house because you were too annoyed or simply didn't make the time to do the bothersome little chore. Then during supper one night, your child chokes or your father has a heart attack - and the paramedics wasted precious seconds looking for your new house number. In the meantime, your child choked to death or too much time lapsed between your father's heart attack and treatment - and he died. The 10 minutes it would've taken to change your house number seems petty now, doesn't it?</p><p>That's what's at stake.</p><p>That's why the ruckus being made about the changing of street names seems ridiculous. Terrebonne Parish Council has been working to eliminate duplicated street names or confusing addresses over the past few months in an effort to reduce emergency response times. Some residents have been upset by the changes; the Parish Council argued for 30 minutes recently over the issue.</p><p>But a clearer address pulled up by the Enhanced 911 Emergency Response System means those in trouble can get help faster. When someone's threatening your safety, you want police to arrive at your home as soon as possible. You want medical personnel to respond to your ailing family member as quickly as they can - every second counts. The sooner a team of firefighters can reach a burning home, the more hope there is of saving the structure and threatened lives.</p><p>Yes, it may take a little extra paperwork to change your address. But could you face yourself in the mirror if your loved one dies because you were too stubborn to help emergency personnel find your home faster?</p>